Rheinhesssische Dialects - Introduction to a Linguistic Landscape

Dialects create identity and are part of regional culture. Dr. Rudolf Post, a linguist and author, has written numerous works on the Palatine and Rheinhessian dialects. His current book “Dialects in Rheinhessen” (2024) thoroughly explores the linguistic diversity of the region for the first time. The Rheinhessian dialect area extends over the city triangle of Bingen, Mainz, and Worms and linguistically belongs to the Rhine Franconian within the West Central German dialects.

In his entertaining lecture, the author demonstrates how this area has been shaped by various cultural influences. Using maps and examples, he illustrates to what extent one can even speak of a unified Rheinhessian dialect. Vocabulary, phonetics, and morphology, as well as influences from Latin, French, and Yiddish, will also be discussed.

Rudolf Post's comprehensive research breaks the prejudice that Rheinhessian is merely a “mixing zone” of surrounding dialects and instead defines the region as an independent, dynamic cultural and linguistic space.

For more information, please contact info@kulturverein-guntersblum.de

Admission to the lecture is free - donations are welcome.